NZ335608A - Package, method and device for packaging a batch of articles of undetermined volume - Google Patents

Description

New Zealand No 335608 International No PCT/FR97/01829 TO BE ENTERED AFTER ACCEPTANCE AND PUBLICATION Priority dates 11 10 1996,13 11 1996, Complete Specification Filed 13 10 1997 Classification (6) B65D5/50 Publication date 29 September 1999 Journal No 1444 new zealand patents act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Title of Invention Package, method and device for packaging a batch of articles of undetermined volume Name, address and nationality of applicant(s) as in international application form OTOR, 70, boulevard de Courcelles, 75017 Paris, France PACK, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PACKAGING OF BATCHES OF ARTICLES OF INDETERMINATE VOLUME The present invention relates to a pack of the type comprising a cardboard box provided with a shrinkable film which is integral with it, said pack being intended for the packaging of articles intended to be delivered in highly variable numbers or volumes 10 It also relates to a method and an apparatus for forming a packaging pack of the type comprising a cardboard box provided with a shrinkable film It has a particularly important, though not exclusive use- in the field of the transport of heavy 15 objects, that is to say of a weight greater than one kilogram, for example three kg, five kg, ten or even thirty kg, and of irregular shape Such packaging is also particularly suitable for objects, such as boxes, bottles, drugs or else 20 various documents, taken as a group or unit by unit m the same pack which is particularly intended for delivery to a retailer, such as a book seller or pharmacist and, more generally, the retail trade.

It will easily be understood that wholesalers, 25 m order to prepare the orders from their retailers, need to package batches of inherently widely differing articles m packs which must, nonetheless, withstand sometimes difficult transport and delivery conditions, in view of the cost of standard boxes, it quickly 30 oecame difficult to use such packs for packaging batches of articles of this kind, since this would presuppose resorting systematically to ranges of packs, the storage of which would be extremely costly and therefore unsuitable for this form of distribution 35 Many solutions to this type of problem are already known, and, for a long time, these have proposed packaging the batches of articles inside a box or tray, especially made of cardboard, which is covered with a heat-shrmkable plastic sheet connected to the inner face of the bottom of the box and/or to the inner face of the two opposite vertical walls, it is thus sufficient for the objects to be packaged to be arranged inside a cardboard bottom, and for them 5 subsequently to be covered with the plastic sheet which, finally, will be shrunk completely onto the products, for example as a result of passage through a heating tunnel, the result of this being that said products are kept firmly stowed against the transport 10 box Such solutions are normally highly advantageous, since they require only a single box with a minimum volume of cardboard, thus bringing about substantial savings in terms of material, in addition to obvious savings in the storage of now only a single pack 15 French patent FR-2,426,620 is known in this connection, according to which two plastic sheets are used for packaging a batch of products, said sheets overlapping one another, at one of their ends, on top of the load, so as to be hot-welded to the latter m 20 the region of the overlap zone, their other end, which is not in contact with the load, being adhesively oonded to the inner face of the bottom or, m the vicinity of the bottom, to the inner face of a side wall of a cardboard box obtained from a simple blank 25 forming the bottom of the box, from which bottom extend two lateral faces which are previously folded down onto the load, before the two plastic sheets, which will retain the assembly as a whole by welding, are folded down This particular pack has the disadvantage of a 30 serious lack of mechanical stability of the assembly as a whole; m fact, the entire packaging is linked to the detachment or tear resistance of the connections of the plastic sheets to the bottom or side walls of the cardboard box It is well known that such packs are 35 subjected to high stresses during handling and transport, these often leading to the breakage of the connections of the plastic films to the cardboard base.

Other solutions have been proposed m this respect, these being based, this time, on the surprising discovery that the detachment or tear resistance of the sheetlike heat-shrankable materials during the handling and/or transport operations was improved when the connection of said heat-shrinkable 5 materials to the box was made outside said box on at least one outer face (bottom or side wall) of the latter, that edge of said face which is covered with said sheetlike heat-shrinkable material acting as a means for opposing the stresses exerted by the weight 10 of the load Several solutions have already been proposed in this regard, especially in French patent FR-A-86,01435, which describes a packaging box consisting of a case, for example made from cardboard, and of a sheetlike 15 heat-shrinkable material for packaging a load and for keeping the latter m place, characterized m that the sheetlike heat-shrinkable material is connected by means of at least one of its borders to the outer surface of a wall of the case in the vicinity of the 20 edge of said wall and is deployed, on the outside, from said border toward the edge of said wall and then, on the inside of the case, opposite the inner surface of said wall, at the same time moving away from the latter toward the load to be packaged A similar solution is 25 found, moreover, in Frerch patent FR-A-85,16217, according to which the heat-shrinkable sheets are inserted between the inner faces of the walls and portions of these same walls, said portions being folded toward the interior of the box.

These last solutions have the disadvantage either of requiring a cover, m the first case, or of providing, at the outset, a special cut-out which is costly m terms of material and generates extra cost m the management of stocks of such packs, furthermore, 35 these solutions are more complicated m mechanical terms, m as much as they require two plastic sheets which appreciably complicate the assembly operations Another solution was proposed in French patent FR-2,577,001, which describes an American or suchlike box which uses a film of heat-shrinkable plastic integral with the bottom of the box, characterized m that the plastic film is gripped between the outer flaps, adjacent to two parallel walls of the box and 5 forming the actual bottom of the pack, and the inner flaps, adjacent to the other two walls and lining the bottom internally.

The advantage of this last solution is that it can be mechanized reasonably easily, since the 10 heat-shrinkable film can be inserted continuously from a reel and, furthermore, the solution does not require any adhesive bonding of said film to the bottom of the box, thus mitigating the abovementioned disadvantages By contrast, this last solution is not 15 satisfactory, since it is suitable only for American boxes with a complete bottom, making it impossible, for example, to use boxes having reduced flaps, but also trays with adhesively bonded outer or inner corners or else joined together Amcr-ican boxes—which—a-f-e—cloood by 20 means of an independent adhesively bonded lid A method for the packaging of batchjg's of products of various volumes is alsp^ known (FR-A-2, 661, 392) , m which a wedge is pu£"ned into a box, at the same time driving a plastic/film The film 25 is arranged and projects transverselv/on either side of the wedge, which is less wide than/the inner dimension of the box m the transversa direction and which comprises longitudinally, opK its two opposite sides, two elastic wings or flaps locked by a spring effect, 30 via locking tongues, i/n complementary orifices in the walls of the previously formed box Such a method does not make it possible to obtain a pacjc capable of holding objects of great weight. yK packaging box for small parts of any shape is also/Joiown (DE 81, 15, 943), said box being provided with a/sleeve or bag made of heat-shrinkable plastic and ■■with—■ one e-e more superposed pallets which-—a-re ^■5 / ■I ]oined-together American boxes which are closed 20 by means of an independent adhesively bonded lid A method for the packaging of batches of products of various volumes is also known (FR-A-2,661,392), m which a wedge is pushed into a box , at the same time driving a plastic film. The 25 film is arranged and projects transversely on either side of the wedge, which is less wide than the inner dimension of the box in the transverse direction and which comprises longitudinally, on its two opposite sides, two elastic wings or flaps locked by a spring 30 effect, via locking tongues, m complementary orifices in the walls of the previously formed box Such a method does not make it possible to obtain a pack capable of holding objects of great weight A packaging box for small parts of any shape :s also known (DE 81,15,943), said box being provided with a sleeve or bag made of heat-shrinkable plastic and AMENDED SHEET with one or more superposed pallets which are introduced with an appropriate fit into the sleeve and box Here, too, such a pack has disadvantages Its 5 production cannot be mechanized, especially m view of the difficulty of introducing the pallet into the sleeve or bag, and it is appropriate only for small objects (for example, screws) The documents DE-U-8115943 and FR-A-2,661,392 10 describe packs with a board and plastic film which can hold only small objects and/or do not sufficiently withstand difficult transport conditions / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / z AMENDED SHEET \ t* ;It is an ob|cct of the present invention to provide an improved packaging box that mitigates the aforesaid disadvantages ;The present invention pro\ ides a packaging box made of cardboard or the like for the transport of a load said box comprising a lateral enclosure formed from at least four vertical walls and from a horizontal bottom integralK fixed to said enclosure via |ommg lines a filinlike heat-shnnkable plastic material intended for packaging said load and for keeping the latter in place at Last oik attached ngid board inserted between at least two first opposite vertical walls in such a wa\ that said trans\erse edges arc in contact via the film of plastic matcnal with at least part of the |oining lines of said First walls and means for blocking said board against the bottom characterised in that the board presses the heat-shnnkable film onto the inner facc of the bottom of the box at the same time allowing curtain portions of free material to escape on either side of two mutualh confronting opposite edges of said board called transverse edgi s said curtain portions ext' "ding from said transverse edges over a length sufficient to cover one another at die same time completeK enveloping the load and blocking said load as a result of the heat shnnkage of the film and in that m order at least partialis to fonn the blocking means the lower face of the board is at least partiaJK directK adhesivek bonded to the upper face of the bottom of the box. through at least one rccess of the film or on a surface devoid of film ;In other words the distance separating the trans\erse edges of the board is over at least part of said edges greater than or equal to the inner transverse dimensions of the box ;- 6 - ;Advantageously, the rigid board is a plane board when it is flat and devoid of flaps, that is to say the transverse and longitudinal lateral peripheral portions of which are not connected to the central part 5 of the board by means of folding or grooving lines, for example m order to form wings which are deformed elastically during introduction into the box. ;In other words, the board has a transverse dimension equal to or greater than the inner transverse 10 dimensions of the box, that is to say the distance separating the transverse edges which are m contact and round which the plastic film passes is at least equal to the inner transverse dimensions of the box. ;By inner transverse dimensions of the box is 15 meant the shortest distance separating the inner faces of two opposite walls m the transverse direction ;It will easily be understood that such a solution has many advantages, as compared with all the prior teachings, m as much as it is possible to equip 20 any cartons, boxes, trays or cases forming a receptacle with a heat-shrinkable film intended for enveloping any load, without the risk of problems of detachment or tearing during handling or m the case of shocks m the course of transport, likewise, the solution recommended 25 by the invention is suitable both for continuous production, in as much as a shrinkable film m one piece is used, or for entirely manual and one-off production, since it is sufficient to provide, m addition to a reel of heat-shrinkable film, plane 30 elements which, at the appropriate moment, are cut to the dimensions of the bottom of the tray, box or any other container made of compact corrugated cardboard or another sheetlike material, the film and board being assembled simply by forced or slanted or, at the very 35 least, contact insertion between two opposite side walls of the container to be equipped ;Of course, according to another important characteristic of the invention, the plane element forming the double bottom of the container is obtained ;- 7 - ;from a simple corrugated cardboard blank, of which it is expedient simply to orient the directions of the flutes exactly, as will be explained later ;Moreover, in advantageous embodiments, use is 5 made of one and/or the other of the following airangements: ;m order at least partially to form the blocking means, the lower face of the board is at least partially directly adhesively bonded to the upper face 10 of the bottom of the box, through at least one recess of the film or on a surface devoid of film. ;Advantageously, the upper face of the box is adhesively bonded to the lower face of the board through a plurality of small recesses 15 Likewise advantageously, the faces are adhesively bonded through a wide central orifice of the film, said orifice confronting the center of the board and being, for example, circular or oval and having a maximum transverse dimension of five to ten 20 centimeters. ;In order to form the recesses, the film is also, for example, perforated m the form of a plurality of orifices pierced by heating or punching, for example in the form of crescents, arranged m the 25 vicinity of the joining lines, for example at one or two centimeters from said joining lines of the first walls, adhesive bonding of cardboard to cardboard taking place through the orifices, additional adhesive bonding of the film of plastic material likewise being 30 capable of being carried out as a result of the overflow of glue under and over the peripheries of the orifices, ;- the blocking means consist at least partially of the first walls, the board having a dimension a 35 little greater than the distance between said first walls, so that said board is wedged forcibly between said first walls after insertion, ;in order at least partially to form the blocking means, the board comprises, on at least one of ;its two opposite edges, at least one tenon, said tenon co-operating with a corresponding recess made in the region of the joining line with the bottom of the first confronting wall, in order to bring about the snapping 5 engagement of the board, once the latter is in place against the bottom of the box, ;- the recess consists of a groove of a height equal to or substantially equal to the thickness of said board and extending over part of the length of ;10 said joining line, ;- the blocking means comprise portions of inner tabs directly adnesively bonded to the inner faces of said first vertical walls, the lower periphery of said inner tabs coming into abutment with the upper edges of ;15 the board in order to ensure said blocking, ;- the blocking means comprise flaps attached to the upper peripheries of the first walls by means of folding lines; ;- the blocking means comprise flaps attached to 20 the lateral peripheries of the second walls directly or indirectly adjacent to the first walls. ;By indirectly adjacent is to be meant a wall which would, for example, be separated from the first wall by a corner cut, ;25 - the blocking means comprise flaps attached to the lower peripheries of the first walls by means of folding lines forming at least partially the joining lines with the bottom, said flaps each comprising a tongue detachable from said flap, but remaining 30 attached to said joining lines, and fastened to the bottom of the box formed by two other flaps, said flaps being folded down and, for example, fastened on top of the board by adhesive bonding; ;- the film of heat-shrinkable material is in 35 one piece, ;- the board is made of corrugated cardboard, of which the direction of the flutes is perpendicular to the contact lines with the first vertical walls, between which said board is inserted; ;.V< .v. ^ ^ ;- 9 - ;- the board completely covers the bottom of the box in order to form a double bottom, ;- the box is produced from a blank comprising a series of tabs which terminates in a fastening tongue, ;5 said tabs being connected to one another by means of first folding lines parallel to one another, and a first set of lateral flaps arranged on one side and connected to the main tabs by means of second folding lines which form said joining lines, are perpendicular 10 to the first folding lines and are intended at least partially for forming the bottom of the box, ;said second folding lines beirg aligned, and said bo\ being arranged so as to be assembled automatically by the folding down of said tabs and of 15 the flaps of said first set around a mandrel, the end tab of the series of tabs and the tongue, on the one hand, and the adjacent flaps, on the other hand, being fastened to one another by adhesive bonding m order to form said box, ;20 - the series comprises eight tabs, specifically four main taos separated in pairs by four intermediate tabs ;It will be appreciated that the embodiments more particularly described here, which are half boxes, 25 are intended to form boxes according to the invention and, for this purpose, comprise lids known per se, ;which consist, for example, of flaps connected to the walls by means of folamg lines or of an attached lid m the form of a ooard connected to a wall by means of 30 a folding line or not ;The present invention further provides a method for forming a packaging box made of cardboard or the like for the transport of a load, as described above ;Advantageously, the method comprises the 35 following steps the bottom and the vertical walls of the box, ;which is left open on top, are formed, ;- 10 - ;a composite element is formed, comprising the board and the plastic material integrally fixed at least temporarily to said board or not, and the composite element is introduced forcibly or 5 aslant until it comes into a position blocked in abutment against the bottom of the box, before the top of said box is closed by a flap being folded or a lid being put in place, after the introduction of the load and heat sealing. ;10 In another advantageous embodiment, the method comprises the following steps the bottom and the vertical walls of the box, which is left open on top, are formed, ;then, the film of plastic material is 15 introduced and the board is introduced forcibly or aslant onto the plastic material until said board comes into a position blocked m abutment against the bottom of the box, before the formation of the pack is completed, as described above 20 Advantageously, since the film has previously been perforated in order to form a plurality of orifices which are for example aligned or staggered m parallel and are substantially in the vicinity of those edges of the board which are likely to confront the 25 lines joining the bottom with the first walls, glue is injected through these orifices onto the cardboard of the board or of the bottom located underneath, before tne plastic material is laid onto the board or the bottom and before said composite element formed by the 30 board and the applied film, or the board alone if the film is already introduced and laid onto the bottom, is introduced into the box. ;In an advantageous embodiment, the bottom and the walls of the box are formed around a mandrel 35 Advantageously, before the bottom and the walls of the box are formed, the composite element is laid onto the bottom of the mandrel, and the box is subsequently formed from above ;r o 3 ;- 11 - V ^ ;In another embodiment, the bottom and part of the vertical walls of the box, which is left open on the side, are formed, ;a composite element is formed, comprising the 5 board and the plastic material integrally fixed at least temporarily to said board, and the composite element is introduced into said box from the side, before said side is closed The present invention also provides an apparatus for , ;10 the production of a packaging box made of cardboard or the like for the transport of a load, said box comprising a lateral enclosure formed from at least four vertical walls and from a horizontal bottom integrally fixed to said enclosure via joining lines, 15 and a filmlike heat-shrinkable plastic material intended for packaging said load and for keeping the latter in place, characterized in that it comprises means for forming the bottom and the vertical walls of the box, ;20 means for presenting a composite element comprising a board superposed on the plastic material which is integrally fixed at least temporarily to said board or not, and means for introducing the composite element 25 into said box forcibly, with slight friction, or aslant, until the heat-shrinkable film is laid onto the inner faca of the bottom of the box, sr as to be sandwiched relative to said board, at the same allowing two curtain portions of free material to escape on 30 either side of two mutually confronting opposite edges of the board, said curtain portions extending from said edges over a length sufficient to cover one another, at the same time completely enveloping a load to be introduced, means for blocking said load as a result of 35 the hot welding and heat-snrmkage of the film, said means oemg capable of laying said element in place by pressing on the attached rigid board, and means for closing the top of the box ;! HrlrilrcTu ;~ 6 AL'G 1SC3 ;r'\T ;5 ;10 ;15 ;20 ;25 ;30 ;X "'1 ~ 0 o u 'l-' ;- 12 - ;The board and the half box are thus arranged m such a way that the board is inserted between at least two first opposite vertical walls, so that two edges of the board are in contact, via the film of plastic material, with at least part of the joining lines of said first walls, and is then held m a position blocking the board against the bottom ;Advantageously, the apparatus comprises adhesive bonding means allowing direct adhesive bonding between part of the lower face of the board and of the upper face of the bottom of the box through the film ;In an advantageous embodiment, the apparatus comprises means for forming the bottom and the walls of the box around a mandrel ;Likewise advantageously, it comprises means for laying the composite element onto the bottom of the mandrel ;By way of example only preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which ;- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a half box according to a first variant of the invention, showing the component elements of the half box, before assembly according to the arrows F, ;- Figure 2 is an elevation view of a section II-II of Figure 1, when the board forming a double bottom is sandwich-laid onto the bottom of the box, furthermore, unbroken lines illustrate some of the articles after the heat-shrinkage of the plastic film and thin broken lines illustrate the two curtains of plastic before the loading of the articles, ;- Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second variant of the half box according to the invention, showing the board forming a double bottom, before assembly according to F and before the snapping engagement of the double bottom between tw

Claims (13)

CLAIMS ** . » "

1. 1 A Packaging box made of cardboard or the like for 5 the transport of a load, said box comprising a lateral enclosure formed from at least four vertical walls and from a horizontal bottom integrally fixed to said enclosure via joining 10 lines , a filmlike, heat-shnnkable plastic material intended for packaging said load and for keeping tne latter m place, at least one attached rigid board 15 inserted between at least two first opposite vertical walls __ , in such a way that said transverse edges are in contact, via the film of plastic material, with at least part of the joining lines of said first 20 walls, and means for blocking said board against the bottom, characterized in that the board presses the heat-snrinkable film onto the inner face of the bottom 25 of the bo<, at the same time allowing curtain portions of free material to escape on either side of two mutually confronting opposite edges of said ooard, called transverse edges, said curtain portions e

2. ^2 A Packaging box according to Claim 1, characterized in that the blocking means consist at least partially of said first walls , the board having a dimension a little greater than the 5 distance between said first walls, so that said board can only be introduced and then wedged forcibly between said first walls

3. 3 A Packaging box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized m that, in order at 10 least partially to form the blocking means, the board comprises, on at least one of its two opposite edges, at least one tenon , said tenon co-operating with a corresponding recess made m the region of the joining line with the bottom of the first confronting 15 wall, m order to bring about the snapping engagement of the board, once the latter is m place against the bottom of the box

4. A. packaging box aLCordmg to Claim 3 charactenzed in that the recess consists of a groove of a height at 20 least equal to the thickness of said board and extending over part of the length of said joining line 5 A Packaging box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blocking means comprise portions of inner tabs directly 25 adhesively bonded to the inner faces of said first vertical walls , the lower periphery of said inner tabs coming into abutment with the upper edges of the board in order to ensure said clocking 30 6 A Packaging box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blocking means comprise flaps attached to the upper peripheries of the first walls by means of folding lines. 35 7 A Packaging box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blocking means comprise flaps attached to the lateral

5. AMENDED SHEET H^lufCTljAL , _-,i\ urn E.

6. LT ' z E - 6 AU3 1S39 j

7. L REC E1VED j 33 r. 60 3 ^ peripheries of the second walls directly or indirectly adjacent: to the first walls.

8. 8, A Packaging box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blocking 5 means comprise flaps attached to the lower peripheries of the first walls by means of folding lines forming the joining lines with the bottom, said flaps each comprising a tongue detachable from said flap, but remaining attached to 10 said joining lines and being fastened to the bottom of tne box formed by two other flaps , said flaps oemg folded down over the board

9. 9 A Packaging bO\ according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the film of 15 heat-shrinkable material is in one piece

10. 10 A Packaging box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized m that the board is made of corrugated cardboard, of whicn the direction of the flutes is perpendicular to the contact lines with 20 the first vertical walls, between which said board is inserted

11. 11 A packaging box according to an\ one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the board completely covers tne bottom of the bo-< m order to form a double 25 bottom

12. 12 a Packaging box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the box is produced from a blank comprising a series of tabs which terminates in a fastening tongue, 30 said tabs being connected to one another by means of first folding lines parallel to one another, and a first set of lateral flaps arranged on one side and connected to the main tabs by means of second folding lines which form said joining lines, 35 are perpendicular to the first folding lines and are intended at least partially for forming the bottom of the box, AMENDED SHEET fiT'THl, Cl7' | m- ~ 6 AUG 1339 _PfCF!\/ED 33 :' 0 ^ 3 - 31 - said second folding lines being aligned, and said box being arranged so as to be assembled automatically by the folding down of said tabs and of the flaps of said first set around a 5 mandrel, the end tab of the series of tabs and the tongue, on the one hand, and the adjacent flaps, on the other hand, being fastened to one another by adhesive bonding in order to form said box

13. \ packaging box according to Claim 12 characterized in 10 that the series comprises eight tabs, specifically four mam tabs separated in pairs by four intermediate tabs 14 A method for forming a packaging box made of cardooard or the like for the transport of a load, according to any one of the preceding claims, in which 15 the bottom and the vertical walls of the box, which is left open on top, are formed the plastic film and the board being placed m the box simultaneously or separately, the board being adhesively bonded to the bottom of box through 20 orifices made in the plastic film 15 A Method according to Claim 14, characterized in that a composite element is formed , comprising the board and the plastic material integrally fixed at least temporarily to said board or not, the film having 25 previously been perforated m order to form a plurality of orifices which are aligned or staggered m parallel and are substantially in the vicinity of those edges of the board which are likely to confront the lines joining the bottom with the first walls, 30 glue is injected through these orifices onto the cardboard of the board, said cardboard being located underneath, and the composite element is introduced forcibly or aslant into said box until it comes into a 35 position blocked m abutment against the bottom of the box, before the top of said box is closed by INTFLLCCili,, AMENDED SHEET 1 n - 6 AUG 1239 RECEIVED . 32 - w 5 : (j y 3 flaps being folded or a lid being put in place, after the introduction of the load and heat sealing 16 A Method according to Claim 14, characterized m that the plastic material, previously perforated in 5 order to form at least one orifice, is introduced, and glue is injected through this orifice onto the cardboard of the bottom underneath, the board is then introduced forcibly onto the plastic material, until it comes into a position 10 blocked in abutment against the bottom of the box, Defore the latter is closed, after the introduction of tne load and heat sealing 17 a Metrod according to any one of Claims 14 to 16 for forming a box according to either one of Claims 12 15 and 13, characterized m that the bottom and the walls of the box are formed around a mandrel 13 A Metnod according to Claim 17, dependent on Claim 14, characterized m that, before the bottom and cne walls of said box are formed, the composite element 20 is laid onto the bottom of the mandrel, and tne box is suDsequently formed from above 19 A Method according to Claim 14, characterized m tnat the bottom and part of the vertical walls of the boA, which is left open on tne side, are formed, 25 a composite element is formed, comprising the board and the plastic material integrally fixed at least temporarily to said board, and the composite element is introduced into said bo, from the side, before the box is closed after the 30 load has been put in place and heat sealing 20 An Apparatus for the production of a packaging box made of cardboard or the like for the transport of a load, said box comprising a lateral enclosure formed from at least four vertical walls and from a horizontal 35 bottom integrally fixed to said enclosure via adjoining lines, and a filmlike heat-shnnkable plastic material AMENDED SHEET j ' (1 j - 6 AUG IS39 | ! R t£C E i VED < V ' / > ' ■ 0 - 33 - intended for packaging said load and for keeping the latter in place, characterized in that in that it comprises means for forming the bottom and the 5 vertical walls of the box, means for presenting a composite element comprising a board superposed on the filmlike plastic material which is integrally fixed at least temporarily to said board, 10 means for the adhesive bonding of the board to the bottom through an orifice of the plate material, means for introducing the composite element into said bo< forcibly, with slight friction, or aslant, until the heat-shnnkable film is laid 15 onto the inner face of the bottom of the box, so as to be sandwiched relative to said board, at the same time allowing curtain portions of free material to escape on either side of two mutually confronting opposite edges of said board, said curtain portions extending from 20 said edges over a length sufficient to cover one another, at the same time completely enveloping the load and blocking said load as a result of the heat-shrinkage cf the film, said means being capable of laying said element m place by pressing on the 25 attached rigid board 21 An Apparatus according to Claim 20, characterized in that it comprises means for forming the bottom and the walls of the box around a mandrel 22 An Apparatus according to Claim 21, characterized 30 in that it comprises means for laying the composite element onto the bottom of the mandrel 2^ A packaging box substantial as hereinbefore desenbed with refcrcncc to and as shown in an\ one of Fig s 1 and 2 Fig s 3 and 4 Fig s 5 and 7 Fig 6 FigsK-10 Fig s 11-13 or Fig s 14-17 of the accompans ing drawings AMENDED SHEET IWTEL1 renin" ~ 6 AUG 1239 RECE!\/CD -34- T r w ... j J 0 24 A method for forming a packaging bo\ substantial!} ns hereinbefore described with reforuice to and as shown in Fig 18 of the accompajmng drawings 25 An apparatus for the production of a packaging box substantialK as hereinbefore desenbed with reference to and as shown in Fig 19 of the accompany mg draw ings 04D Of CLAWS p^TELLECfli]i -oVr— * j n lpt\ office| J "6 AUG 1939 I